Day 235 Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 10-13

2 Chronicles 10: The Kingdom of Israel Divided

[Content Overview]

Up to this point, we have had an overview of the ministry of Solomon, who presided over one of the most prosperous periods in Israel's history, but this chapter continues the chronological account of Israel's history by describing the reigns of the successive kings of Judah. In this chapter, the 120-year united kingdom of Israel comes to an end with the death of Solomon and the beginning of the period of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, which divided Israel in the north and Judah in the south. The structure of the book records the people's demands of Rehoboam (vv. 1-5), the advice of the elders and the counsel of the young men (vv. 6-11), Rehoboam's rejection of the people's demands (vv. 12-15), and the rebellion of the ten tribes led by Jeroboam (vv. 16-19).

2 Chronicles 11: The Early Reign of King Rehoboam 

[Overview]

This chapter shows how King Rehoboam, who had the misfortune of losing the northern ten tribes upon his ascension to the throne, turned the nation's fortunes around and made Judah prosperous. Recognising his responsibility for the division of the land, Rehoboam embarked on a campaign of conquest to recover the lost territory and people, but was saved when the Lord prevented him from fighting brother against brother (vv. 1-4). The chapter then describes Rehoboam's strengthening of the defences and the return of the northern Israelites, indicating the prosperity of southern Judah in the first three years of his reign (vv. 13-17). Finally, Rehoboam's family is introduced (vv. 18-23).

2 Chronicles 12: The Invasion of Shishak, King of Egypt

[Overview]

Whereas the theme of chapter 11 was the blessings of Rehoboam's obedience, this chapter records the decline of mighty Judah as a result of Rehoboam's discipline for abandoning the law of the LORD. It records Rehoboam's fall and the sacking of Jerusalem by the Egyptian king Shishak (vv. 1-12), followed by the years of Rehoboam's reign and his assessment (vv. 13-14). Rehoboam's deeds and death are then recorded (vv. 15-16). Rehoboam was greatly blessed by God to build a strong nation in three years, but he soon became proud and committed the folly of forsaking the law of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 13: Abijah and the Civil War

[Overview]

This chapter describes the war of Abijah (913- 910 B.C.), son of Rehoboam, who became the second king of Judah, against Jeroboam of Israel. Although Abijah only reigned for three years, the author of Chronicles, unlike the author of Kings, gives a very positive account of Abijah's life. This is probably because Abijah was the king who overthrew Jeroboam, who had betrayed the house of David and the LORD. This chapter describes the situation before the war between Southern Judah and Northern Israel (vv. 1-12), the course and outcome of the war (vv. 13-20), and finally Abijah's personal life after the war (vv. 21-22).